HART CELEBRATES 30 YEARS THIS WEDNESDAY!

Morning Events at Transit Centers, Lunchtime Celebration Downtown on the Agenda

September 28, 2009 - Tampa, Florida - In 1980, disco was on its way out, Ronald Reagan was on his way in, and the question on everyone's minds was "Who shot JR?"

That was also the year the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority started serving customers in Tampa and Hillsborough County. Now, as HART hits the big 3-0, we're celebrating with events to recognize our founders, our employees and our customers. It all kicks off this Wednesday, September 30th, at 7:00 a.m. at HART's transit and transfer centers.

Photo Opportunity - Meet the Boss
Morning commuters will be treated to a free cookie while supplies last on Wednesday to get their day off to a sweet start at HART's downtown Tampa and University Area Transit Centers, as well as transfer centers in the Northwest, West Tampa and Netpark locations. Visitors to the Marion Transit Center, located at the north end of Marion Street in downtown Tampa, will have a chance to meet HART's CEO, David Armijo, and Board of Directors Chair, Temple Terrace City Councilman Ron Govin, as they help with handing out the morning's sweet treats from 7-8 a.m. It's a great chance for HART customers to shake hands with the people in charge and to let them know how HART is doing.

Taking a Bow - Lunchtime Event at Lykes Gaslight Park
Wednesday's celebration then moves to the center of downtown with a lunchtime event at Lykes Gaslight Park, at the corner of Kennedy Boulevard and Franklin Street, from noon to 2 p.m.

On hand for a short program starting at 12:30 will be dignitaries who helped to launch HART back in 1980. In addition, HART will accept proclamations from the offices of the Governor of Florida and the Mayor of Tampa, as well as a commendation from Tampa City Council.

We'll also be giving one lucky winner a year's worth of free rides on HART services, and we'll award the first of our monthly prizes of a 31-day fare card in what will be a yearlong giveaway. Visitors can also pick up free water and kettle corn.

Moving Forward
HART's 30th anniversary is as much an opportunity to look ahead to future plans as to look back at past achievements.

Our future initiatives include:

• Alternatives Analysis - The first step toward securing federal funding for a light-rail or other advanced transit system is expected to be completed next spring.
• Bus Rapid Transit - HART's new MetroRapid service is currently in the engineering phase and is scheduled to begin operation in 2011. The new service will provide improved travel times between north Tampa and downtown.
• Airport Service - HART's Route 30 was recently improved to provide service between downtown and Tampa International Airport every 15 minutes on weekdays. In addition, a new transfer center on airport property will provide direct service to the terminal for customers from Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.
• Streetcar Extension - The TECO Line Streetcar System is being extended to Franklin and Whiting Streets, reaching the heart of downtown. Groundbreaking on the extension is scheduled for October 9th, with service expected to begin late next year.
• Increased Service Countywide - HART's long-range plan includes adding new services such as a reservation-based flex service, additional express and local routes throughout the county, more BRT lines, additional buses for current routes and much more.

HART Mission Statement
Our Team is dedicated to providing excellent customer service while building solutions to support Hillsborough County's needs...now and into the future.

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